How can I protect myself?

The good news is the flaw looks like it can be fixed with a similar software update in most devices.

In fact, Microsoft has already released a patch for Windows that fixes the flaw and Apple will roll out an update in a few weeks that does the same according to CNET.

So make sure you're up to date with any patches on your devices that use Wi-Fi (smartphones, PCs etc.) as well as the routers themselves, and check for more updates in the next few weeks.

That's just the start of our problems though.

Here's Associate Professor from School of Engineering at RMIT University Mark Gregory:

"Realistically what we will see of course is that anywhere between 30-50 per cent of devices won't be patched," he said.

"We're now in a situation where we need to consider Wi-Fi to be insecure until we know that what we're connecting to has been patched."

You need to be really careful with public Wi-Fi

Professor Gregory says it's going to be a major area of concern in the months ahead.

You probably don't need to worry too much about a public Wi-Fi connection at your local government-run library or at a major fast food establishment because they've got massive IT departments to fix this kind of thing.

Your favourite boutique coffee shop though? That's another story.

"The problem is where we have cafes and smaller companies that are offering Wi-Fi it's likely that the access points won't be patched and therein lies the problem," he said.

Patching your own device doesn't guarantee you're safe either.

"If the actual access point hasn't been patched, the information you're sending to that access point can be looked at by people who are connected," Professor Gregory said.